Turkish Airlines Celebrates First Year with Additional Flights

Turkish Airlines will now operate daily nonstop air service between Houston and Istanbul

Turkish Airlines first began service in Houston in April 2013 and has expanded to daily nonstop air service a year to the date of its original launch.

Leaders with Turkish Airlines celebrated their first year of operations in Houston by expanding their flight schedule and beginning daily nonstop service to Istanbul, Turkey. The new schedule took effect on April 1, 2014, exactly one year to the day after the airline’s inaugural flight connected George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Ataturk International Airport (IST) in Istanbul.

“We believe that these new flights will make international travel easier and more convenient for both business and leisure travelers in the area, says Hamdi Topçu, Turkish Airlines’ Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Executive Committee.”

Turkish Airlines first began passenger air service between Houston and Istanbul, Turkey in April 2013 and operated nonstop flights four times per week. The new daily nonstop flight departs IAH at 7:50 p.m. central time and arrives in Istanbul at 3:45 p.m. local time. The return flight departs IST at 1:05 p.m. local time and arrives in Houston at 6:05 p.m. central time. The flight is operated on a Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft.

The news comes on the heels of a series of announcements revealing expanded routes offering nonstop flights to domestic and international destinations from Houston. Airport officials link the boost in flight service from Houston to the booming local economy.

Last year, Bush Intercontinental Airport set a new record for international passenger traffic, with totals increasing by 2.5 percent — from 8.7 million international passengers in 2012 to 8.9 million passengers in 2013. Another spike in passenger totals is expected when William P. Hobby begins international air service in 2016 with the arrival of a new international terminal in late 2015.